What Happened on October 7
Important Events
- 1571 Battle of Lepanto: Holy League of southern European nations destroy Ottoman fleet in significant loss off Western Greece
- 1737 A cyclone causes 40 foot waves that are believed to have killed 300,000 in Calcutta, India
- 1763 George III of Great Britain issues Proclamation of 1763, closing lands in North America north and west of Alleghenies to white settlement
- 1919 KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines, established (oldest existing airline)
- 2001 The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan starts with an air assault and covert operations on the ground
Oct 7 in Film & TV
- 1971 "The French Connection" directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider and Fernando Rey premieres in the US (Academy Awards Best Picture 1972)
Oct 7 in Music
- 1982 Musical "Cats" opens at Winter Garden Theater on Broadway NYC and runs for nearly 18 years before closing on September 10, 2000.
Oct 7 in Sport
- 2000 Last ever competitive soccer match at Wembley Stadium, England defeated 1-0 by Germany, last goal scored by Liverpool's Dietmar Hammann. Match is Tony Adams' 60th at Wembley, the record for most appearances at the stadium.
Did You Know?
Far side of Moon seen for the 1st time, courtesy of USSR's Luna 3 space probe
On October 7, 1959
Famous Birthdays
Niels Bohr
(1885 - 1962)Elijah Muhammad
(1896 - 1975)Heinrich Himmler
(1900 - 1945)Desmond Tutu
89 Years OldVladimir Putin
68 Years OldSimon Cowell
61 Years Old
Would You Believe?
Georgia Tech, coached by John Heisman, defeats Cumberland, 222-0; most lopsided score in the history of US college football
On October 7, 1916
Famous Weddings
- 1776 Crown Prince Paul of Russia marries Sophie Marie Dorothea of Württemberg.
- 1914 44th US Ambassador to the United Kingdom Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. (26) weds John F. Fitzgerald's daughter, Rose Fitzgerald (24)
- 1965 Actress and comedian Phyllis Diller (48) weds actor Warde Donovan
Famous Divorces
- 1988 Robin Givens files for divorce after 8-month marriage to Mike Tyson
- 2004 Actress Andie MacDowell (46) divorces businessman Rhett Hartzog (45) after nearly three years of marriage
Articles, Photos and Quiz
Lepanto – The Battle That Saved Europe
The Christian West was saved from defeat by the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Lepanto on this day, the most important naval engagement in human history.
October 7, 1571Far Side of the Moon Revealed
The first ever photo of the far side of the Moon, taken by the Soviet spacecraft Luna 3
October 7, 1959Weekly Quiz for September 30 - October 6
What major US structure was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935? Who called Russia a 'riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' in 1939?Weekly Quiz for October 7 - 13
John Lennon released the best-selling single of his solo career in 1971, what was it? Leif Ericson became the 1st European to do what this week in 1000 AD?
October in History
Wedding Day for 'Diamond Eye' Cats
Two ‘lucky’ cats were treated to a $28,000 ‘wedding’ by their grateful owner on this day, with 500 human guests who brought gifts worth an incredible $60,000.
October 5, 1996Jazz Singer Sounds Death Knell for Silent Movies
The Jazz Singer was premiered on this day and audiences were thrilled to hear Al Jolson talking. The pioneer film spelled the end for the silent-movie industry.
October 6, 1927The Great Stand on the Ugra River
On one side of the Ugra River stood the Mongol Golden Horde, on the other, Ivan III, Grand Prince of the rising Muscovy Principality. At stake, everything.
October 8, 1480Lutine – The Ship That Refuses To Give Up Her Treasure
The British Navy ship HMS Lutine was carrying a fortune in silver and gold bullion when it foundered in a storm on this day. The treasure was lost forever.
October 9, 1799